MANCHESTER UNITED had their captain to thank for their vital Champions League quarterfinal 1-1 draw at Old Trafford tonight, after Bastian Schweinsteiger scored an equaliser for Bayern Munich and was then sent off.

United, floundering in the English Premier League under new manager David Moyes, confounded grim pre-game predictions by taking the lead in the 58th minute through Nemanja Vidic's header from a corner.

However, Bayern will take a crucial away goal into next week's second leg in Germany after Schweinsteiger finally found a cutting edge to his team's fine build-up play, arrowing a half-volley high into the net in the 67th.

The Germany midfielder blotted his performance by picking up a second yellow card in the 90th minute for a foul on Wayne Rooney.